Wyndham to race Kindergarten Stakes at home

Bruce Stewart Journalist

The Wyndham Harness Racing Club is almost certain they’ll be racing on their home track the Young Quinn Raceway, for Kindergarten Stakes Day on Sunday 29^th March.

Parts of the roof of the main grandstand were lifted off when strong winds buffered the province in October last year and the building was deemed unsafe for further use.

After delays, demolition of the grandstand finally began on Monday afternoon and progress has been good. Once the debris is removed a solid gravel base will be laid.

“We’ll have marquees for members and public. The main thing is to get the structure up for the judge and the stipes. It’s going to be scaffolding with porta cabins - exactly what Nelson have done. Hopefully early next week those structures will be up, then the TAB can run cables and do what they need to do,” said Wyndham Club President Brendan Duffy.

Duffy says the Club has been consulting with HRNZ, keeping the parent body across the plans.

“There’s a bit to do but we’re working pretty hard towards that date.”

As well as the $50,000 Group Two Kindergarten Stakes, the programme features a heat of the Supremacy Stakes, the $40,000 Group Three Champayne Stakes and $25,000 time honoured Wyndham Cup.

Beyond Kindergarten Stakes Day the Wyndham Club has plans to replace the grandstand with a more community oriented structure, but like a lot of clubs in New Zealand, Wyndham awaits the results of the latest venue review ‘Project Stamina’ due to be released mid-year.

“We’ve had a plan in place for a while to replace the stand with a building more suitable for this day and age. We’ve got ideas, but we can’t say too much until Stamina had gone through and everyone knows what the future holds. From our point of view the ground can’t be sold. You’d like to think we could get a bit of certainty and be able to race here long term.”

Meanwhile the Southland Harness Awards will be held on Friday 24^th April at Ascot Park. Diamonds Day will be held two days later on Sunday 26^th April, also at Ascot Park.

The Awards night were in doubt after the majority of the organising committee resigned, but Southern Harness Board member Jason McMath has picked up the challenge and is currently organising award categories and the format for the night.